When Alabama lost star wide receiver Isaiah Bond to the transfer portal earlier this year its work was cut out for Kalen DeBoer’s staff to add something to supplement the departure.
Whether his production can be matched remains to be seen, but so far former Washington wide receiver Germine Bernard has been a pleasant addition to the group. After joining DeBoer with his move to the Crimson Tide, Bernard made a name for himself in the spring, specifically on A-Day where he caught three passes for 122 yards.
Now, through the first several sessions of fall camp, Bernard has continued to be a consistent playmaker for new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan who shared how fortunate he feels to have a player like him down in Tuscaloosa.
“I think Germie has been awesome and has had a great camp and had a great spring,” Bernard said. “He’s a great football player. Certainly, in addition to that, his leadership, his character, who he is as a person, his willingness to help those around him — he wants his teammates to do well. Obviously has knowledge of the systems and has played in it previously.
“Germ’s been great and we’re lucky to have him.”
After beginning his college career at Michigan State, Bernard transferred to Washington where he largely served as a productive rotational player in the offense. Through 14 games Bernard caught 34 passes for 419 yards an two touchdowns while also carrying the ball 13 times for 43 yards and two rushing touchdowns helping the Huskies reach the national championship game.
In Washington’s offense, Bernard worked alongside two highly regarded NFL prospects Rome Odunze and Ja’lynn Polk and is now applying what he’s learned from them to his larger opportunity with the Crimson Tide.
“He was in a room with three NFL players and coached by, in my opinion, the best wide receivers coach in the country,” Sheridan said. “That development, that exposure that was cultivated in that room, I certainly think it helps any young player. Germ speaks to that, just who he was watching day-to-day and who he was being taught by, from a coaching perspective. It’s great.
“A young player who’s able to sit there and learn from the older, veteran players who went on to great, successful careers, he’s able to sit there and continue to be taught by coach (Shephard), that’s a benefit.”
Alabama returns to practice Sunday for its Fan Day as it continues to work toward its first game of the season against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
